The Supreme Court on Friday refused to hear the petition directing the formation of ‘One Nation One Education Board’ for implementing uniform education system for children between the ages of six to 14 across the country.
A division bench headed by Justice DY Chandrachud turned down the PIL of lawyer Ashwani Upadhyay, saying it was a policy matter and the court could not interfere in the matter. Justice Chandrachud said that due to the education system of the country, the burden on the children is already high and whether the petitioners want to increase this burden by mixing the courses together?
Upadhyay had requested the court to direct the Center to explore the possibility of formation of National Council of Education or National Education Commission on the lines of Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council for implementing uniform education system across the country. The petitioner sought to instruct the Center to introduce a uniform curriculum for children between the ages of six to 14 years.
The petitioner said that it is necessary to do so to uphold the spirit of Articles 14, 15, 16, 38 (2), 39 (f), 46 and 51A of the Constitution. Upadhyay had expressed the need to include fundamental rights, duties, policy directive elements and the objectives of the Preamble of the Constitution and make their studies compulsory for all in the age group of six to 14 years of age.
The petition sought to instruct the Center to explore the possibility of merging the Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE) board and the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) to form a ‘One Nation One Education Board’. Meanwhile, Upadhyay told the agency that he would approach the government with his request.
